William P. Bryant
| William P. Bryant | |
|---|---|
| 1st Chief Justice of the Oregon Supreme Court | |
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In office 1848–1850 |
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| Preceded by | (none) |
| Succeeded by | Thomas Nelson |
| 1st Associate Justice of the Oregon Supreme Court | |
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In office 1848–1850 |
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| Nominated by | James K. Polk |
| Preceded by | (none) |
| Succeeded by | Thomas Nelson |
| Personal details | |
| Born | August 3, 1806 Mercer County, Kentucky |
| Died | October 10, 1860 (aged 54) Rockville, Indiana |
William P. Bryant (August 3, 1806 – October 10, 1860) was an American jurist from Kentucky. He served as the first Chief Justice of the Oregon Supreme Court in the Oregon Territory. United States President James K. Polk appointed Bryant, of Indiana, to the court once the Oregon Territory was established in 1848. In Indiana he served in both houses of the Indiana General Assembly and was a county judge. Bryant also fought in the Black Hawk War against Native Americans.
William Bryant was born on August 3, 1806, in Mercer County, Kentucky. He grew up there and left home at age 18 after his mother had died when he was young and could no longer tolerate his father's religious upbringing. In 1825, Bryant moved to Rockville, Indiana, where he would fight in the Black Hawk War and begin practicing law. After the war he served in the Indiana House of Representatives from 1831 to 1836, followed by serving in the Indiana State Senate from 1836 until 1839.
Bryant started a law practice in 1840 with General T. A. Howard, and later served as a circuit court judge for Rockville. After changing political party affiliations from Whig to Democrat, he was appointed by United States President James K. Polk to serve as chief justice of the three member Oregon Supreme Court. Bryant was appointed on August 14, 1848, the same day the new Oregon Territory was created. He migrated to the territory in 1849, arriving April 9.
While in Oregon, Bryant purchased an island and milling operation from George Abernethy in the Willamette River called Abernethy's Island. However, the island near Oregon City was previously claimed by Doctor John McLoughlin. Later this became an issue between McLoughlin and Samuel R. Thurston. Thurston had worked the Donation Land Claim Act in Congress to exclude McLoughlin's claim to Oregon City and the island.
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